Nikon's latest f/1.4 lens can't match the performance of its SLOWER f/1.8 sibling
(Image credit: Future, www.vecteezy.com)
We've just reviewed Nikon's latest Z-mount lens: the Z 35mm f/1.4. As we've come to expect from the best Nikon Z lenses, it's very impressive. However, this isn't the only 35mm Z lens that Nikon offers. The older Z 35mm f/1.8 S was one of the very first Z-mount lenses, but despite its age and slower aperture rating, it's around 40% more expensive to buy than the f/1.4.
Traditionally a lens with a faster aperture has commanded a price premium over a slower optic: take standard zoom lenses as an example - a 24-70mm f/4 will always be cheaper than an f/2.8 version. But it's exactly the opposite in the case of the Nikon 35mm pair - why is that? The answer is that little 'S' moniker at the end of Z 35mm f/1.8's model name. Nikon's S-Line lenses, are, according to Nikon:
At the top of the line-up of NIKKOR Z lenses and were developed by Nikon engineers aiming at the very highest levels of optical performance...they provide distinct advantages such as the ability to shoot wide open with near-zero drop in sharpness right across the frame.
S-line lenses are also likely to receive advanced coatings like Nikon's Nano Crystal coat to minimize ghosting and flare, while their general build quality should be more robust than a non-S-Line optic, and you can expect more comprehensive weather sealing.
But is this just marketing hype to justify a premium price tag, or do S-Line lenses like the 35mm f/1.8 S actually perform significantly better than a non-S-line optic like the new Z 35mm f/1.4? Well, we've lab tested both lenses, and we can actually confirm that spending the extra cash on the f/1.8 S WILL indeed get you a higher performing lens.
In terms of simple sharpness, the f/1.8 is noticeably and consistently sharper across the whole image frame, although it is worth noting that the f/1.4 is still a very sharp lens.
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(Image credit: Future)
It's the same situation when we look at chromatic aberration. Both lenses keep color fringing below noticeable levels, but where the f/1.4 only just manages this, levels of fringing from the f/1.8 S are almost non-existent at smaller apertures.
We also found that both lenses also register almost zero distortion, however since Nikon Z bodies automatically correct for optical distortion and this can't be disabled, our distortion scores aren't necessarily reliable.
So there you have it: here's a rare instance of a slower lens being better than an equivalent faster optic, and it seems that Nikon S-Line premium really is worth the extra cash. None of this is to say that the Z 35mm f/1.4 is bad though - far from it - the take-home here is that the Z 35mm f/1.8 S is a truly spectacular lens.
Ben is the Imaging Labs manager, responsible for all the testing on Digital Camera World and across the entire photography portfolio at Future. Whether he's in the lab testing the sharpness of new lenses, the resolution of the latest image sensors, the zoom range of monster bridge cameras or even the latest camera phones, Ben is our go-to guy for technical insight. He's also the team's man-at-arms when it comes to camera bags, filters, memory cards, and all manner of camera accessories – his lab is a bit like the Batcave of photography! With years of experience trialling and testing kit, he's a human encyclopedia of benchmarks when it comes to recommending the best buys.
